Pages

Click on pictures to see them enlarged in a photo stream. Comments: word verification on to allow anyone to comment but try and deter excessive amounts of spam! I LOVE getting comments!

Friday, 24 June 2016

EU referendum

I don't usually report on anything too political on my blog but it would be odd if on a momentous day like today I didn't say something. So..... what to say, except I am stunned. I did vote to remain in the EU. I voted in 1975 to join the then Common Market and I voted to remain in the EU. I know it's less than ideal and change needed to be made to the EU structure etc. But I felt we were stronger together than apart. In this age of globalisation becoming a very small country in a very big world doesn't seem to make much sense. I also feel that a simply In or Out vote didn't cover the many complexities of the issues. However the majority of the UK population voted to leave the EU. To be precise 52% voted to leave and 48% voted to remain.

In Orkney the vote was in favour of remaining part of the EU. Voting figures released today show that 7,189 voted to remain while 4,193 voted to leave, with a turnout of 68.45%.

Scotland as a whole voted to remain in the EU (62%), with just 38% voting to leave. Nicola Sturgeon (First Minister for Scottish Government) has said that a second Scottish Independence Referendum is "highly likely". Then Scotland would be able to apply for EU membership.

The UK Prime Minister has resigned as he supported remaining IN..... Though it was HIS idea to have a referendum because his own party were fracturing. He misjudged the mood of the voting public...badly.

So, we live in interesting times. It's oh so easy to put a cross next to REMAIN or LEAVE but it will take years to untangle the legal issues and the ramifications will be felt for generations to come.

I know your blog has little do with anything political (and that's why I follow it), but, as you said, the results of the referendum are monumental. If I may, a question to you: Do you suppose that if Remain had won that Nicola Sturgeon would not now be talking a 2nd ref re: independence for Scotland? To me, that would seem to be the case.

To be honest the very raison d'etre of the SNP is Independence. Has been from day 1. I suspect at some point in the future when they were certain of getting a greater majority supporting it, then they would have gone for it again. But I doubt it will be straightforward this time.

Aye, and there's always someone unhappy with a decision! And normal service will be resumed. Just felt I had to say something as we don't live in a vacuum. I have friends who voted Leave and they will remain friends too even though we disagree :-)

All credit to you, Sian, for writing a thoughtful, dispassionate post. I may have to remove the 'F' key from my laptop before attempting to embark on a similar exercice. My greatest concern is for the ecology of Britian. I cannot see how the protections of the Habitats and the Birds Directives will be maintained by an unconstrained Westminster.

I wondered if you would say something about this most disturbing vote. It isn't a simple in or out is it? The ramifications of this decision is long reaching. I am in hope that things will work out, but won't be holding my breath. Take care, and continue to enjoy your little paradise.

Although I almost always read your beautiful posts I rarely comment, but I just wanted to say that I, too, feel sad and I do wonder what the future will bring. I am Swiss and Italian and was not allowed to vote but I was hoping common sense would prevail. Alas, I was wrong. I was drinking coffee and sewing a blouse to keep my thoughts on track. Have a lovely weekend.

Thanks from commenting Christina. I do appreciate it. I know a lot of young people are angry that their right to work and travel freely across 27 countries is about to be lost. Hard to say what things will look like in a couple of years time...

The vote to leave the EU makes many of us in the USA very nervous. As I'm sure you know, we have a presidential election this November - and a very un-presidential candidate that has gained a lot of popularity by tapping into many people's fear and anger. Sound familiar? These are very interesting times. Peace be with you. Regards, Lorraine

Translate

Welcome to my blog which is about life on Graemsay (population approx 23), one of the smaller of the Orkney islands off the North of Scotland (UK). Life is quiet here so I don't always write daily but try to post several entries a month. Enjoy your browsing around the island.....

Nature

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.William Blake